Comfort Food to Overcome Depression and Social Distancing
We all need comfort when we are down and social distancing has been tough on our psyche for awhile. Yet, Italians seem to overcome any problem, including depression, with food. The kitchen is their kingdom and food, their inspiration. Then, of course, they cook so much to feed an entire army. Well, that’s what I did, at least for awhile, and kept my sanity.
Here is a light, delightful potato gnocchi recipe from scratch:
Ingredients
2 potatoes — boiled and mashed
1 1/2 to 2 cups of flour
1 to 2 eggs (depending on the amount of flour)
Sea salt — if desired; if you have blood pressure problems, skip it.
Steps to make gnocchi
Place the flour on the board and make a little mountain with a hole in it
Place the mashed potatoes in the hole
Whisk the eggs and add it to the potatoes
Work the batter with the potatoes and flour until you make a dough
Knead the dough and let it rest for a few minutes
Cut the dough in small pieces and roll them into strings
Cut the strings in small pieces
Roll each piece with your finger
Ingredients for tomato sauce
1 can whole tomato sauce, then crush the tomatoes
Fresh basil, 3-4 cloves of garlic and 1/4 to half onion depending on the size
Extra virgin olive oil
Sea salt (if desired)
Parmigiano
Sauce preparation
Sauté mashed garlic and cut up onion in olive oil in a pan until golden
Add the crushed tomato sauce and let cook for 10 minutes
Add the fresh basil
Cook the gnocchi and serve
Bring water to a boil and add a drizzle of oil so that the gnocchi don’t stick together
Add the gnocchi
As soon as they pop out on the surface, drain them—they are done!
Place them in a bowl, add sauce and parmigiano and mix well. This way they absorb the sauce and the flavors.
Place them in a serving dish and add more sauce, parmigiano and fresh basil.
Buon appetito!
